I've had many people ask me what the best thing about el Reten was. My team and I currently have a blog in the works about our top 100 from the month (yes, there were THAT many great things) but one day for me definitely sticks out.
To give you some background…
This past year for me has not been an easy one. August 9, 2010 was probbbably the hardest day of my life. I was hopeless, and in so many pits and in so deep that I saw no way out. The chains were too many to count and too strong to bear and I was just ready to give up. All my life I thought I was a Christian, but the reality that I was NOT, had hit me head on. By the time I desired to be rescued, I had gotten myself into such a mess that I wondered why in the woorrrlld the Lord would choose to save me. I listened to the lies that I had to be "good enough" or that I somehow had to deserve salvation. Wrong. When I called out for help, God answered. When I turned from my wicked ways and sought Him, He heard me and healed me. He was faithful to be my Deliverer, and faithful to give me new life and salvation when I had done a whopping diddly squat to even come close to deserving it. I still struggled with things… am I good enough? What about this? What about that? How can I let go of things of the past? Etc.. etc…
August 9, 2011 – My chains were broken for the last time. I was baptized by my sisters (as you see here) and when I came outta that water, I was a new creation. Dead to the old Nat, alive with the new. Wham bam thank you maam. I am a daughter of the King and sin has no hold on me. I can't really explain it, but at the moment you see in the picture, I had this undescribable joy. Trash from the old life – adios. Lies from the enemy I was struggling with just days before – seee yaaaaa. HELLOOOO FREEDOM. I have a tattoo on my arm that says "freedom for the captives." I got it mainly because I have a desire to see others freed from whatever it is they are held captive by, but in reality, I was also living in captivity. The tattoo has a whole new meaning now that I am actually free.
I still can't think of the words to properly describe that day (plus it's my brother's birthday – double whammy), but maybe this picture will help.
My chains are gone,
I've been set free.
My God, My Savior
Has ransomed me
And like a flood
His mercy rains
Unending love
Amazing grace
